Video: Shoppers find common threads at sari sale

Wednesday

Aug 27, 2008 at 12:01 AMAug 27, 2008 at 5:58 PM

In a small function room at the Best Western New Englander hotel in Woburn, shoppers gather about once a month to browse through the latest from New Jersey-based Indira – racks of saris on hangers, or in neat, folded piles on tables, with colors from burning orange to soothing pastels.

Margaret Smith

In a small function room at the Best Western New Englander hotel in Woburn, shoppers gather about once a month to browse through the latest from New Jersey-based Indira – racks of saris on hangers, or in neat, folded piles on tables, with colors from burning orange to soothing pastels.

Some are embellished traditional patterns, or soft, breezy floral prints; others reflect the smart, upbeat sensibilities of the latest couture of a Bollywood spectacular.

The shoppers might pick up snacks, such as tasty banana chips or peanut brittle, or jewelry such as sparkling pendants or brightly colored sets of bangles.

And, they catch up with friends, including the hostess, Indira Kakad -- always dressed elegantly in a sari, and with a knack for remembering customers, even when she has not seen them in a while.

That’s perhaps because so many have returned, along with their children who then come as adults, to Indira’s regular sari sales in the area. They buy clothing and jewelry, sometimes to wear to special events or celebrations, to bring with them on trips back home to India, or to send as gifts to loved ones there.

For Indira and her husband, Dilip Kakad, what started as a modest venture 33 years ago with a used station wagon and a willingness to travel has become a thriving enterprise, catering to the South Asian community with sari sales all along the east coast.

‘A meeting place’

For South Asians in the Boston area, the sari sale has become an event of its own, where friends socialize and renew a cultural connection.

The sari sale typically takes place over one weekend each month, during which time 80 to 100 shoppers may come through, the Kakads said.

“I needed to buy some saris, so I came here,” said Shumitra Dasgupta, of Lexington, who stopped by on a recent Sunday. Holding up a sari patterned with cheerful, blue dots, she said she buys sari fabrics and either brings them to an area tailor or sends them home to India to be sewn together. “There is an art to how you wear it, how you wrap it around.”

Wearing a sari may be second nature at cultural gatherings, or social functions or when visiting friends, but Dasgupta said the sari is also a recognizable symbol, unique to South Asian heritage.

As his wife assisted customers, Dilip Kakad took a quick break in the hotel lobby, and talked about Indira’s origins. “We started with very little capital, like $2,000. I bought a station wagon for $500,” he said.

They couldn’t afford to open a store, so they simply took their merchandise on the road, setting up at various sites such as hotels, and sending out mailers. Soon, word of mouth helped pick up business as well.

“It is a meeting place for Indians,” he said, noting that customers – who come from many communities in the area, including Arlington, Billerica, Lowell and the south shore -- often arrange to meet for coffee or dinner after shopping at the sari sale.

Over the years, the sari sale has had various homes in the Boston area, including Cambridge and Burlington and its current location, where the Kakads have been coming about once a month for about 10 years.

Although the sari is an ancient garment, it keeps with the times, Dilip said, noting that if a certain style is worn by a glamorous film star, it is instantly in demand.

Dilip said many customers trace their heritage not only to India but to other South Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal. “It is almost like Europe, Canada and America. Our food, our clothing, are all interconnected,” he said.

Colors and couture

But the customers are not exclusively from the South Asian community. Helen Perry, a Middle Eastern dance performer and instructor based in Tewksbury, has been shopping at the sari sale for costume fabrics for more than 25 years.

Perry, who is of Lebanese descent and also known by her Lebanese stage name, Zbeide, uses the sari fabrics to make costumes for herself, her students and other dancers. She said the flow of the fabric and the colors and patterns lend themselves well to the costuming needs of Middle Eastern dancers.

“They use such beautiful colors…bringing together unusual colors you wouldn’t normally find, such as turquoise, purples, reds,” she said. “Every one of them is different.”

The Kakads see their enterprise as an egalitarian one; Dilip Kakad noted that his wife is “the face of the business,” while he takes care of various business details.

He noted that in India, it is often women who are merchants. “In the fishing villages, the men catch the fish but the women sell it at the stand,” he said. “In the farms, the men harvest the food and the women bring it to the market.”

For her part, Indira said the business model is a simple one: “Good products, good price, good service,” she said.

Margaret Smith is Arts and Calendar editor for Community Newspaper Company’s northwest unit. E-mail her at msmith@cnc.com.

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